Washington DC

The city of Washington, DC is located on the north bank of the Potomac River and is bordered by Northern Virginia to the southwest and Maryland to the other sides. This cosmopolitan city was the first American city to be planned, with its wide, tree-lined streets. As the nation’s capital, Washington, DC, has earned its spotlight as more than just a center of political power. It ranks as a world-class city for its many attributes: thriving, diverse economy, outstanding educational institutions, abundant cultural attractions, magnificent museums, efficient mass transit systems, sustainability leadership and more.

The DC Region has a solid employment base, with the federal government supporting nearly 3 out of 10 jobs in DC. Additionally, many organizations such as law firms, civilian and defense contractors, non-profit organizations, lobbying firms, trade unions, industry trade groups and professional associations base their headquarters in the region to keep ties with the federal government. This provides a stable economic foundation, allowing the DC area to post the lowest unemployment rates among major metropolitan areas.

The Washington Metropolitan Area, of which the District is a part, has a population of 5.3 million, the ninth-largest metropolitan area in the country. The region does not solely depend on the government for its economic vitality. The Greater Washington, DC region boasts growing industries in education, finance, public policy and scientific research. We are home to leading universities: American University, George Washington University, Georgetown University and Howard University.

The region also serves as the headquarters for dozens of Fortune 1000 firms in a wide variety of industries: finance, media, defense, healthcare, science, professional services, hospitality, energy and consumer products. Fannie Mae, Capital One Financial, Washington Post, Gannett, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Pepco Holdings, AES Corp., Marriott International, and Coventry Health Care are just a few companies that have been based in the region for some time. Additionally, several companies have recently moved their headquarters to the region, including: Hilton Worldwide, Volkswagen, Northrop Grumman and SAIC, Inc.

Long-term stability and a diversified economy make Washington, DC one of the top cities for commercial real estate investment. The Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE) ranked Washington, DC, as the top city for real estate investment in 2009 and as the No. 2 city for investors’ real estate dollars in 2010.